Cigarette feed for packaging machines



Feb. 28. 1956 J. .JACKSON ET A1.

CIGARETTE FEED FOR PACKAGING MACHINES 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 28, 1952 Feb. 28. 1956 Filed Aug. 28, 1952 FIG. 1A

J. JAcKsoN r-:T A1. 2,736,476

CIGARETTE FEED FOR PACKAGING MACHINES 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Illllllhl! INVENTORS JOHN A. MAUL ERNEST E. POHL JOHN JAGKSO ATTORNEY J. JACKSON ET AL CIGARETTE FEED FOR PACKAGING MACHINES Feb. 28, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 28, 1952 4INVENTORS JOHN A. MAUL ERNEST E. JOHN JACKSON ATTORNEY W www @s RN A@ EN QQ Feb. 28, 1956- J. JACKSON ET AL CIGARETTE FEED FOR PACKAGING MACHINES POH.

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Feb. 28. 1956 J. JACKSON ET AL 2,736,476

CIGARETTE FEED FOR PACKAGING MACHINES Filed Aug. 28, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Plas ,50

to entirely displace it off `a stationary yvane.

United States Patent() CIGARETTE VFEED FOR PACKAGING MACHINES John Jackson and `Iohn A. Maul, Brooklyn, andErnst E. Pohl, Queens, N. Y., assiguorsSto American Machine .'& Foundry Company, a corporation of New Jersey Application August 28,1952, Serial'No. 306,912 191Claims. (,Cl."226`5) This invention relates to cigarette packaging apparatus, and moreparticula'rly to improved mechanisms for feeding cigarettes from a bulk supply and assembling groups .of cigarettes in proper order and arrangement for packaging.

In'handling and feeding cigarettes, it is desirable and limportant thatfthey be subjectedto as little pressure and ,rolling as possible if they are not to'be damaged-or dissequent handling of -such distorted and misshaped cigarfettes, along with oval cigarettes which escape suchmis- ,handling,.makes it difficult to Vfeed and assemble them in groups'for packaging.

The present invention constitutes a solution of the .above noted problem becauseit makes-possible the feedling of cigarettes, and more especially oval cigarettes, substantially entirely free from damage or distortion due to the manner in which they are handled from thetime they are. fed from a .bulk supply until they are introduced into lthe packaging machine. It willbe apparent, therefore, that vas-a result of: our. invention, more perfect and uniform packages of cigarettes, and especially oval cigar- .ettescanbeproduced .In mechanism constructedin accordance with the invention, any tendency .for cigarettes to bulk togetheris ,overcomein a novel manner. Also,.means are .provided for-.relieving cigarettesffrom pressuresolthatthey are fed in Aproper succession without-being pressed or rolled .to .thealigning chutes, fromwhence theyareejected by novel mechanism f and delivered Vin Ygroups containing a predetermined number of .cigarettes to a packaging machine.

In .an apparatus constructed in accordance .with the invention, thereis provided inthe hopper, which contains a bulk supply of cigarettes, a plurality of oscillating members which lift the majorpart ofthe cigarettes contained therein, and in'this way, relievethe cigarettes about to enter the vertical assembling chutes of any pressure which might-damage them. Coacting with the lifting members and operatingin timed relationtherewith are sets of Vertically moving vanes. These vanes have a relatively long stroke and are so timed that when the major part of the cigarette bulk supply-is lifted,.the moving vanes engage cigarettes restingsubstantiallyfree 'fromrpressure on the topof they assemblingichutes andzlift and displaceeach cigarette positioned'crosswise betweena stationary and a movable vane. Since the'length of stroke of the movable'vanes is att-least equal'to or slightly greater than the majoraxisfofveach oval cigarette,.itffollows that each crosswise positioned cigarette is turned a distance sufficient In thisrmanner, it 'slides off such vane ,andcangravitate or move downwardly into the spacefbetween astationary and a movable vane in a direction at right angles to'its minor ICC axis. In other words, if oneedge of an oval cigarette rests on a stationary vane, the length of stroke of amovable vane is suflicient to overbalancesitcompletely'and direct it into-the space between two adjacent vanes. ,This prevents it from movingback to its former'position when the moving vanereturns to its lowermost position. Also provided are novel'means for ejecting cigarettesfrom the assembling chutes and orienting'them with'the major'axes thereof parallel one r to another.

It is, therefore, anobject of Ytheinvention to feed'and assemble cigarettes for packaging with a minimum of distortion or damage.

it is a further object `of thelinventionzto provide'improved bulk-supply handling and `feedingn'nechanismfor a cigarette packaging machine, and more especially'for handling oval cigarettes or like vshaped articles, insuch manner as to insure a substantially unbroken feed of cigarettes into assembling chutes which support a. plurality of cigarettes in spaced side by side,arrangement,.and to provide means for ejecting cigarettes from the assembling chutes, including strippers Vfor properly positioning rows of 4cigarettes for orienting, .after which each oriented row is delivered intopockets Aof a mold wheel for ultimate delivery to a packaging machine.

In the accompanying drawings, whichform alpart of this specification and in` which likecharacters'of reference indicate the `same ,or like .p arts:

Figures l and lA-arepartial front elevations,partly'in section, which, if joined online A-A, show a preferred form of cigarette feeding andassembling mechanism Yconstructed in accordance` with the invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional side elevation of one of the cigarette assembling, orientingand ejecting units;

Figure 3 is a plan view ofthe mechanism taken on line 3 3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a sectionalendelevation taken kon line 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 isa front elevation of Aone of the-.Collecting pocketsyand Figure 6 isa partial rear elevation` showing ,themeans for driving the `cigarette orienting devices.

The invention relates toimprovementsy to cigarettefeeding 'and assembling'apparatus of the general type shown in Arelt Patent v2,334,1.42an'd more especially to means and mechanisms adapting such mechanisms forusefinthe handling, feeding, and assemblyof oval cigaretteswithout dama gev thereto.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to Figures 1 and 1A, it will be seen that mounted on the bed of a suitable packaging machine 10, are two spaced upright brackets 12, itoone face of whichisattached a vertical plate 14, which, with outwardly divergingarms .16 of brackets 12 having extensions 13, form the rearand side walls of a hopper designated generally `Ztlforabulk supply of cigarettes to be packaged. The front-wall..22 of hopper 20 is preferably formed of a suitable,.trans parent material. A materialwhich has provenvquite;l satisfactory and which is given by way of example, isknown and sold under the trade name ,fPlexiglas.

Suitably attached to the inner faces of extensions or side walls j18 of hopper 2t), are downwardly ,inclined guides 24. As shown in Figure l, these members .areso mounted that cigarettes resting thereagainst, gravitate downwardly therealong to .a point of discharge from hopper 20 to the side assembling mechanism vdesignated generally 30.

in the embodiment of theinvention selectedfor Ipurposes of illustration, there are provided threeassembling units, two side units`30 and av center unit 3,2. Assembling vanes 36 and'38 of centenunit 32,` which form the` cigarette receiving and conveying chutes described;morerindetail hereinafter, are arranged'in spaced substantially vertical planes inclined at an angle to the vertical.

In side units 30, vanes 36 and 3S are located in See Figurel. In assembling units used for assembling oval cigarettes the space between vanes 36 and 38 is less than the major axes of cigarettes being assembled. Thus, cigarettes delivered into the channels formed by vanes 36 and 3S have their major axes inclined toward one vane or the other.

As mentioned hereinbefore, the proper and continuous feed of oval cigarettes from a bulk supply, such as contained in hopper 20, constitutes a real problem if cigarettes are to remain free from distortion, retain their desired oval cross-section and not lose tobacco from their ends as the result of their being fed and assembled for packaging. One of the problems encountered heretofore planes.

` is that of the weight of a mass or bulk of cigarettes exerting such pressure upon the cigarettes about to be fed from the hopper, that, together with the feeding means, cigarettes were damaged and lost their proper shape. Accordingly, in conformity with the invention, this problem has been overcome. This result is effected partly by the provision of blocks 41 and 43, extending transversely across the bottom of hopper 2t) and from rear wall to front wall thereof. Block 41 is provided with an inclined face 42 forming, with the downwardly inclined face of a transverse block member 4t) constituting a continuation of guide 24 as shown at the left in Figure l, a throat through Which cigarettes are delivered to one of the side assembling units 30. Blocks 41 and 43 are also provided with downwardly, oppostely inclined spaced faces 46, which form a throat through which cigarettes are delivered into center assembling unit 32. Block 43 is provided with a downwardly directed face 44, spaced from a downwardly directed face of the other of the block members 40, thereby providing a passage for cigarettes from hopper 20 into the other or right-hand side assembling unit, as viewed in Figure 1.

This novel result is also secured by the provision of throat members 40 which form the bottom continuation of side members 24. Throat members 40, as shown in Figure 1 are each provided with a rounded nose 48 and an upwardly curved part 50, in order to prevent cigarettes from wedging against or between vanes 36 and 38 of side units 30. In this way, when movable vanes 36, beneath nose 48 and part 50 move upwardly, oval cigarettes located in the throats above side units 30 can bubble or move upwardly into the curved part or pocket 50. When vanes 36 are moved upwardly, agitating arms 52 which co-act therewith also are rocked upwardly as described hereinafter.

So also in the case of center unit 32, when vanes 36 move upwardly, agitating arms S4 are moved towards each other in the direction B as described hereinafter in order to insure that cigarettes are properly fed, without damage, to center unit 32. In accordance with the invention vanes 36 have a relatively long stroke preferably equal to or slightly greater than the major axis of a cigarette. This relatively long stroke assures that each cigarette engaged thereby will be properly and positively directed into a channel formed by vanes 36 and 38.

Mounted above blocks 41 and 43 are pairs of oscillatable cigarette supporting and lifting arms 52 and 54 located 1n hopper 20 and extending transversely thereacross from front to rear, as shown in Figure l. These arms assist in supporting the main bulk of cigarettes in hopper 20 for ultlmate delivery to assembling units 30 and 32. Arms 5 2 are located above assembling units 30 and form, with side members 24, a passageway through which cigarettes move to units 30. Arms 52 are attached to rock shafts 56suitably rotatably mounted in plate 14. Arms 54, which are attached to shafts 58, suitably rotatably mounted 1n plate 14, are formed with faces which engage, support and llft cigarettes to be fed from the bulk supply down- War'dly past arms 54, through the throat formed by faces 46 into assembly unit 32. Shafts 56 and 58 are rocked 1n proper timed relation with the movement 0f fangs 36 by means of a sprocket chain 62 running on sprockets 64 and 66, fixed to shafts 56 and 58', respectively, and idler sprockets 63, 69 and 7() attached to shafts 72, 73 and 74 respectively, suitably rotatably supported in plate 14. Also attached to shaft 73 is a gear 76 with which meshes gear 7S, secured to shaft 80 rotatably mounted in plate 14. A lever 82 attached to shaft 80, has its free end connected to an adjustable connecting rod 84, the other end of which is connected to one arm of lever 86, fulcrumed on shaft 88 suitably supported in machine frame 10.

The other arm of lever 86 carries a cam follower 90 running in cam track 92 of cam 94 mounted on shaft 9S, suitably supported in machine frame 10 (Figure lA). Cam 94, by means of a suitable screw and dowels, may be attached to or formed integrally with a gear 96 also loosely rotatablymounted on shaft 95, which gear is driven by a gear 93 attached to shaft 88, the latter being driven by bevel gear 100, attached thereto and meshing with bevel gear 102, having a hub loosely rotatably mounted on shaft 164 suitably journaled in bearings in machine frame 1t), as shown in Figure 1A. Attached to or formed integrally with the hub of gear 102 is a sprocket 196, driven by chain 10S from the main drive (not shown of the machine.

When shaft 83 is rotated, arms 52 and 54 are rocked to and from each other in the direction of arrows A and B, and cigarettes engaged thereby are lifted, thereby relieving pressure which may be exerted by the bulk of oiga-- rettes in hopper 20, upon cigarettes located in the spacesI or throats described hereinabove of the assembling units 30 and 32. At substantially the same time that arms 52 and 54 are rocked, vanes 36 are moved upwardly and irn-A properly aligned cigarettes located in the throats and rotating on vanes 36 and 33, are turned and so positionedA that they can gravitate freely into the slots formed by vanes 36 and 3S and move therebetween downwardly into assembling position at the base of the slots.

As shown in Figure l, units 30 and 32 are substantially the same in construction, except that unit 32 is provided with six slots, whereas units 30 are formed with seven slots. In this manner, each group of cigarettes nally assembled for packaging contains twenty cigarettes. Since the construction of units 30 and 32, except as noted before, is identical, it is thought that a description of unit 32 will suice for all.

Unit 32 consists of a base plate 110 attached in any suitable manner, as by screws 112 to plate 14 of the machine. Integral with plate is a substantially U- shaped bracket member 114 to the upstanding arms of which are attached side members 166. On the outer faces of the forward part of side members 166 are secured positioning bars 118. As shown in Figure 3, the ends of stationary vanes 38 are secured in slots 39 formed in bars 118. The ends of vanes 36 are mounted for sliding movement in slots 37 formed therein. The lower ends of vanes 36 are secured to a cross head 120 by a bolt 122, cross head being slotted to receive the ends of the inner movable vanes 36. Fixed to cross head 120 in any suitable manner, is a rod 124 which extends downwardly through a bore formed in a block 126 integral with base plate 110. The free end of rod 124 is provided with a cam follower 123 engaging with cam 130, attached to cam support member 132 xed to stud shaft 134. Also attached to stud shaft 134 `is a lever 136 on which is pivoted cam follower 138, tracking cam loosely rotatably mounted on shaft 95 and suitably secured to gear 96 for rotation therewith. Lever 136 is provided with an extenison 137 which acts as a handle. This provides means for manually moving the three rods 124 if, for any reason, it is desired to operate cross heads 120 when the machine is not in operation.

Encircling rod 124 is a collar 142, against one face of which bears one end of a spring 144. The other end of spring 144 vpresses against bracket member 114.

arrangement :insures Vthat cam ."fol-lowers 128 -wil1, :at all times; bemaintained. in engagement with. camst130.

YEachirow ofcigarettes resting onthe bottomplate 149 of the assembling units 30 and\32, when ejected therefrom, is pushed into an orienting unit 150 by. means of `.suitable reciprocating ejector rods which form part of the ejector units 152 (Figure 2). Since. each assembling unit 30 or shown) mounted on the main camshaft of the machine (not shown). Arm 155 and lever 157 which are integral are mounted on shaft 104.

Each ejector unit 152 consists of two rows of ejector rods. The upper row of rods=156 is directly above rods 158 of the lower rows. The ends of rods 156 and 158 of each of the three ejector units are secured at one end to asupporting member 160. The three members 160 are rigidly attached to bracket 154 of the slideassembly mentioned above. .The upperrow of rods 156 of each ejector unit is shorter than the lower row of rods, as shown in Figure 2. The free ends of upper rods 156 are supported in, and guided by, a bar 162, one of each of which is secured to the lower front portion of each of the assembly units 30 and 32.

In .retracted position, as illustrated in Figure 2, rods 156 of each ejector unit, are positionedadjacent to the front end of their respective assembly unit with the bottom row C of the cigarettes in the unit'resting'on bottom plate 149. During ejecting operation, rods 156 enter the assembly unit above bottom plate 149 and push the bottom row C of' cigarettes from the assembly unit into orienting unit 150. Rods 158,/being longer than rods 156, extend beneath bottom plate 149 of the assembly unit.

The free ends of rods 158 are guided by and supported in a f member 164 suitably attached to the under edges of .spaced side frame members 166, which are an .integral part of and extend from sidemembers 116 ofthe assembly .unit described heretofore.

The orienting unit 150 consists of the aforementioned .spaced side frame members 166 which are'connected at their lower edges by means of three spaced bottom sections or plates 168, 170 and 172. Thesev sections or plates form the support for therow of cigarettes pushed by rods 156 and 158 from an assembly unit into an orienting unit. In order to keep the'individual cigarettes of the row pushed into said orienting unit separate from each held inplace by suitable notches or grooves in bottom plate 168 and top guide member 178. The latter is secured at each end to the top edges of side frame members 166.

In order to guide cigarettes properly when being pushed from an orienting unit 158, by means of rods 158, into the pockets 180 of the collector turret, the bottom surface 182 of the guide member 178 is suitably inclined with its lowest portion near the discharge end of the orienting unit. The highest end of inclined surface 182 is provided with a number of inclined extension tongues 184, each of which projects into one of the channels 175, between vanes 174, and vanes 174 and side frame members 166. Tongues 184 are secured to the front edge of top guide member 178 andserve vthe purpose of delecting cigarettes downwardly `onto ..the.bottom of Van orienting unitf .astheyfare t being pushed vthereintosby' rodsf156.

In addition to guide tongues 184, each orientinghunit 150 is also provided with a plurality of positivelyactuated guide and deflector fingers 186, each of'which, when in lowermost position, project into one ofchann'els175, formed by vanes-174, :and vanes.174 and :side frame members 166. Fingers 186preferably-.are formedintegrally with and eXtendfrom-.asleeve 190, secured" to .horizontal shaft 192.supported by suitablebearingbrackets 194 mounted onthe top edges of :sideframemembers 166.

To one end of shaft 192 is secured an actuating-arm 196 (Figures 3, '4, and k6). Since three korientingunits 150 are provided, three sets of fingers. 186 and' actuating .means therefor are also provided. Actuating Yarm.196 of the three orienting units 150 is connected by :links 198e, 198b, and 198C (Figure 6),.respectively, to levers 280e, 2Mb, vand 280e, respectively. Levers 200er, -200b, and 280e are mounted onshafts 202g, 202b, and 202C, respectively, the latter being mounted in. suitable bearing lugs 204 conveniently attached to the rear side of vertical plate 14. Each of the three shafts 202a,v202b,.and 202C, carries at its end a bevel gear 206, which, as shown in Figure 6, mesh with a bevel gear 208 mounted 4on a. stud shaft 210 rotatably supported in a suitable .bearing lug (not shown) integral with the rear side of vertical plate14.

A cam lever 212 also is attached to shaft 210. 'The free end of lever 212 carries a cam follower 214'engaging a suitable cam 216, loosely supported on .thestud shaft 95. Cam 216 is attached to cams 94 and T140' and gear 96, all of whichy are continuously rotated by'means of .gear 98 on shaft 88.

A Vspring 218, having one end attached to lever 212 and its other end secured to the machine (not shown)main tains cam follower 214 constantly in engagement with cam 216. The action of cam 216 upon cam lever 212, impartsan oscillating motion tobevel gear 208, which in turn transmits the same motion to the three bevel gears .206. Since these three bevel gears are mounted on shafts 202e, 202b, and 282e respectively, these shafts, through levers 28M, 20Gb, and 288C, and links 198g, 198b,-and 198crespectively, transmit an oscillating motion to actuating arms 196 and shafts 192 of their respective orienting unit. This causes fingers 186 ineach of the :three units .to raise andlower to presscigarettes downwardly in proper timed relation with the action of the 'ejecting rods 156 and 158.

.Each shaft 192 of each of the three orientng units 150 has loosely mounted thereon a pairof spacedarms 220, to which is fastened a plate222 (Figures`2 and 3). Plates 222 are provided with comb-like or spaced retainer or stripper fingers 224, which project downwardly into channels 175, formed by vanes 174, and vanes 174-and side frame members 166. Each plate 222 also is provided with a pair of adjustable lifter screws y226 and 'anadjustable stop screw 228. The lifter screws 226project downwardly into the'path of movement of tworof the fingers 186, which, during their upwardmotiomengage lifter screws 226 and raise plate 222'and retainer lingers 224.

`Each stop screw 228 is provided for the purpose of arresting the retainer fingers 224 at the desiredlevelin their lowerrnost position. A tension spring 230, hooked at one end to one side of plate 222 andanchored to the outside wall of one of the side frame .members ".166, normally urges fingers 224 to stay in this lowermost po-- sition; except when forcefully lifted by means of oscil-- lating fingers 186, when a row of cigarettes is pushed from the assembly unit into the orienting unit.

As mentioned hereinabove, the bottom of each of thethree orienting units 150 is formed by three sections vorplates 168, 170, and 172, spaced so as to form apair of parallel .slots or transverse openings232 (Figure r2) betweenpgplate 168 :and one .side 'edge ofeplate 17.0 1and?.

7 rthe otherside'edge of plate 170. These slots orv openings 232 are provided for accommodating the active laps of orienting belts 234, which run in, along the entire length thereof and project above the plane of plates 163 and 170. Belts 234 which are stretched over a suitably spaced pair of pulleys 236, are continuously driven. Each belt 234, on its top surface-i. e., the surface which engages cigarettes and orients them, is provided with a plurality of notches 238, suitably spaced along the entire length of each belt. As shown in Figure 2, it is preferred to provide two transverse slots or openings for each orienting unit 150. Therefore, twotransverse belts 234 are also provided.

vAs mentioned hereinbefore, each of the three assembling units has its corresponding orienting unit the latter being arranged in the rear of vertical plate 14 in similar fashion to the assembling unit in front of the same. This arrangement necessitates a slightly dierent pulley arrangement and the bottom plate 170 of the orienting unit serving the center assembly unit 32, is integral with a bracket 240 (Figures 2, 4, and 6) which supports a pair of spaced shafts 242, on which the pulleys 236 of this orienting unit are mounted.

The bottom plates 170 of the two orienting units which serve the two assembly units 30, are integral with suitable brackets 244 (Figure 6), each of which supports a pair of spaced shafts 246 to which the pulleys 236 of their respective orienting unit are mounted. The notched belts 234 in the orienting unit which serves assembly unit 32 are also guided over a pair of pulleys 248 (Figures 2 and 6), mounted on a horizontal shaft 250, supported by bracket 240. A sprocket 252 is also attached to shaft 250. Mounted on one of the shafts 246 in each orienting unit serving the assembly units 30 is also mounted a sprocket 254. The sprocket 252, as well as the two sprockets 254, is connected by means of an endless chain 256, which is driven by a sprocket 258 (Figure 6) integral with or attached to the continuously rotating cam Y216. For maximum engagement of chain 256 with sprocket 452 and one of the sprockets 254, an idler sprocket 260 (Figure 6) is provided. The latter is loosely mounted on a stud 262, held by vertical wall 14.

The operation of the orienting units described above is as follows:

When rods of an ejector unit 152 (Figure 2) advance in the direction of arrow E, upper rods 156 engage the rods of the bottom row of cigarettes C, in the respective assembly unit and push them from bottom plate 149 of the assembly unit, over the top surface of guide member 164, into the respective orienting unit 15?. In the meantime, by means of cam 23.6 and the mechanism associated therewith, deector lingers 186, as well as the retainer fingers 224, are elevated sufficiently to permit entry of this row of cigarettes C, into the orienting unit between vanes 174, and vanes 174 and bars 166. Because of their greater length, lower rods 152i of the ejector unit 152, during their forward movement, enter the orienting unit ahead of the cigarettes C, being pushed by upper rods 156. Hence, rods 158 push a previously oriented row of cigarettes Ca, out of the orienting unit and into collector pocket 180 of the packaging machine.

As mentioned heretofore, upper rods 156 push cigarettes C, from the assembly unit over the top surface of guide member 164, into orienting unit. Therefore, after these cigarettes pass over said guide member, they tend to drop to the bottom of the orienting unit. However, since the bottom space of each channel 175, into which each cigarette is pushed, is occupied at this time by an ejector rod 158, each cigarette of the row advanced by a rod 156, drops upon top of the respective rod 158 in the respective channel 175 of the orienting unit. The ejector slide 152 then moves back in the opposite direction, which causes rods 178 to be retracted from channel 175 of the orienting unit, thereby permitting the cigarettes to drop to the bottom thereof.

As mentioned heretofore the lspaced and crosswise running orienting belts-234 are slightly higher than the bottom plates 16S, `170, and 172 of each orienting unit. When cigarettes drop on top of the active laps of these crosswise running belts 234 (Figure 4), the belts, assisted by their notches 238, engage with the lower edge of each confined cigarette causing all of them to assume the same angular position ready for packaging in proper alignment.

In order to prevent the cigarettes thus deposited on top of the rods 158 from sliding backward or out of an orienting unit during the Withdrawal of rods 153 from beneath the cigarettes, dellector fingers 186 and retainer lingers 224, move downwardly. The lower ends of fingers 224 move behind the rear edges of the cigarettes as soon as upper rods 156 begin their backward stroke disengaging from the same. At the same time, deilector fingers 136 exert a slight pressure on the top of the cigarettes so that as soon as the lower rods 15S are withdrawn from therebeneath, the cigarettes are deliected downwardly onto the crosswise running belts 234. After disposing the cigarettes upon belts 23:4, deiiector lingers 186 raise slightly again to permit unrestricted orienting action of belts 234 upon the cigarettes engaged thereby.

Upon the next forward stroke of ejector rods 156 and 15S, the process just described is repeated and a new row of cigarettes is pushed by the upper rods 156 from the assembly unit into the orienting unit. During this same operation, lower rods 158 eject the previously oriented row of cigarettes from an orienting unit and push them without disturbing their uniform angular position, into collector pocket 180.

Collector pocket 181), in the illustrated embodiment, consists of a plurality of members 264 which form three chambers, I, Il, and lll, arranged in tier-like fashion (Figure 5). Chambers l, Il, and Ill, are preferably parallelograms in shape with opposite opposed, inclined side walls 266 of substantially 'the same angle as the inclination of the cigarettes after being oriented in the orienting unit 1S@ 'The top and bottom walls, as well as the angular side walls of each chamber, are somewhat inclined towards the receiving end of each chamber in what may be considered bell-mouth fashion to facilitate and permit trouble-free entrance of each row of cigarettes as it is pushed by rods 15S from the orienting unit into the collector pocket. Since, as mentioned above, the angle of the side walls 266 substantially corresponds with the inclination of the oriented row of cigarettes, the inclined or oriented arrangement of a row of cigarettes being conveyed into a chamber is not changed, as illustrated in dot and dash lines in Figure 5.

Each collector pocket is mounted on a bracket or supporting member 268 (Figures 2 and 5), a plurality of which is suitably spaced and secured to an intermittently revolving collector turret 274), driven in proper timed relation with the rest of the machine from a suitable driving mechanism (not shown). The spacing of the collector pockets on the turret 27d, is such that during each dwell of turret 276, three pockets 180 thereof, line up with three orienting units 150. At this time one row of cigarettes is delivered to each of the three pockets. Since the three orienting units 154i are mounted at different radial heights in relation to the collector pockets on the turret, the lirst orienting unit delivers cigarettes to the bottom chamber lil of the first pocket, the second orienting unit delivers a row of cigarettes to the middle chamber Il of the next pocket, and the third orienting unit delivers a row of cigarettes to the top chamber I of the third pocket. Since the turret rotates in a step by step motion and all pockets stop at each orienting unit, it takes three steps of the turret to completely fill one collector pocket.

The filled collector pockets 271i are moved one after the other to a delivery station where they are aligned axially with pockets 272 of a suitable transfer turret 274. At this station the three rows of cigarettes'in each colavenue Ylector pocket 180 vare transferred-intoioneofthepockets V272, `without disturbing the angular position `of theoriented rows of cigarettes. The transfer turret also is lrotated intermittently and is properly synchronized with collector turret 270 and the rest of the machine.

The transfer of the cigarettes from the collector pocket to the transfer pocket is accomplished by a properly timed horizontal reciprocating plunger mechanism 300 (Figure 1), which receives its motion through an arm 3(92 mounted on horizontal'shaft 104 (Figure 1A). The ejector unit operating arm 155 .is .also secured to shaft 104 and, therefore, the movement of plunger mechanism 300 and operating arm 155 are synchronized. In further packaging operations, the cigarettes are -transferredfrom pockets 272 of transfer turret .274, to a wrapping turret (not'shown) for enveloping in a suitable wrapper.

The inventionabove described may be varied in construction within the scope of theclaims, for the particular embodiment selected to illustrate the invention is but one of the possible concrete forms which our invention may assume. The invention, therefore, is not to be restricted to the precise details of the structures Vshown Vand described.

We claim:

l. In a cigarette feed for packaging machines, a hopper adapted to contain a bulk supply of cigarettes, a plurality of chutes located at the bottom of said hopper, oppositely movable sets of lifting arms in said'hopper provided with means for engaging and supporting a portion of said vbulk supply of cigarettes above said chutes, and means for moving said sets of lifting armsin opposite directions to lift said portion of said bulk supply of cigarettes supported thereby and thereby relieve the pressure of said portion of said cigarettes in said hopper on cigarettes entering said chutes.

2. A cigarette assembling and feeding-apparatus for a packaging machine, comprising a hopper adapted to contain a bulk supply of oval cigarettes, a plurality ofspaced chutes located at the bottom of said hopper, spaced pairs of inclined walls located above said chutes for guiding cigarettes into said chutes, lifting arms in said hopper mounted above said pairs of inclined walls and provided with means for engaging and supporting a portion of said bulk supply of cigarettes in said hopper, and means for rocking said lifting arms to and `'from each other to lift said portion of said bulk supply of cigarettes supported thereby and free said cigarettes in said hopper below said ,lifting arms for gravity feed between said inclined walls into said chutes.

3. A cigarette feed for a packaging machinecomprising a hopper adapted to contain a bulk supply of cigarettes to be fed to said machine, three spaced assembling units located at the bottom of saidhopper, sets of inclined guide walls mounted in said hopper 'for directing cigarettes into said units, .a set of inclined walls being provided for each of said units, a plurality of sets of oppositely movable cigarette supporting and 'liftingmembers mounted above said assembling units, and means for substantially simultaneously moving said members towards each other to lift said cigarettes Vsupported thereby and substantially remove the pressure exerted by the bulk of cigarettes above said members from cigarettes located beneath said members, and said means'being operative for then moving said members away from each other.

4. The cigarette feed defined in claim3, including cigarette agitating and positioningvanesin said assembling units, and means for moving said vanes in timed relation with the movement of said members to aid in the move- -ment of cigarettes into said assembling units.

5. The invention defined in claim '4including means for moving said vanes upwardlyin saidunits a distance equal at least to the major axes of `cigarettes beingfed Afor repositioning cigarettes misaligned 'with respect to vanes.for,proper entry into saidunits.

6,. .A .cigarette feed.'forpackaging.machinestcomprising a hopper adapted to contain a supply-of cigarettes to be packaged, aplurality of spaced cigarette 'assembling units including a substantially vertically positioned central unit, and outer inclined units locatedat opposite sides of Ysaid central units, inclined cigarette supportingrand guidewalls mounted in said hopper and above said units, a pair-of spaced oppositely movable cigarette lifting armsmounted above said central unit, a single movable lifting arm coacting with one of the inclined Wall of each of said inclined assembling units, and means for rocking-said arms to lift cigarettes supported thereby for relieving the pressure on cigarettes guided by said walls into said units.

7. The cigarette feed defined in claim 6, wherein said inclined cigarette supporting and guide walls above said outer cigarette assembling units comprise an outer elongated wall having an upwardly curved pocket formed therein adjacent tothe tops of said outer assembling units, and an inner wall spaced therefrom, said walls forming throats through which cigaretttes move by gravity toward said units, and said pocket being adapted to receive cigarettes moving downwardly through said throats,

8. The cigarette feed defined in claim 7, including xed and movable vanes in said units, and means for moving said movable vanes upwardly in said units to rearrange misaligned cigarettes for entry into said units in stacked relationship between said vanes, and for lifting cigarettes movable to enter said vanes upwardly into said pockets, whereby damage by said movable vanes to said cigarettes lifted thereby is prevented.

9. In a cigarette feed for a packaging machine, a hopper adapted to support a supply of cigarettes, a plurality of assembling units located at the bottom of said hopper, cigarette supporting means in said hopper, including spaced, oppositely movable lifting arms, upwardly movable vanes in said units, xed vanes spaced from said movable vanes and forming therewith a plurality ofchannels for receiving a predetermined number of cigarettes, means for moving said arms'and said vanes in timed relationship to feed cigarettes into said channels, said arms being operative to lift cigarettes supported thereby and vrelieve pressure on the cigarettes beneath said arms and in the range of operation of said movable vanes, an ejector movable in a direction substantially at right angles to the path of movement of cigarettes in said units for ejecting a row of cigarettes from each of said units, means for assembling a plurality of rows of cigarettes into stacks, and means for delivering said stacks to said packaging machine.

10. In a cigarette feed for a packaging machine, a hopper adapted to support a supply of cigarettes, a plurality of assembling units located at the bottom of said hopper, cigarette supporting means in said hopper, including spaced, oppositely movable lifting arms, upwardly movable vanes in said units, xed vanes spaced from said movable vanes and formingtherewith a plurality of channels for receiving a predetermined number of cigarettes, means for moving said arms and said vanes in timed relationship to feed cigarettes into said channels, said arms being operative to lift cigarettes supported t ereoy and relieve pressure on the cigarettes beneath said arms and in the range of operation of said movable vanes, and ejector movable in a direction substantially at right angles to'the path of movement of cigarettes into said units for ejecting a row of cigarettes from each of said units, said ejector comprising spaced sets of upperejector rods and spaced sets of lower rods, said lower rods being longer than said upper rods, means for moving said ejector to engage said upper rods with the ends of a plurality of assembled cigarettes in said assembling units, and eject said cigarettes therefrom, said last named means simultaneously engaging said lower rods with the ends of cigarettes previously ejected from -said assembling units, and a stack assembling device adapted to receive cigarettes advanced f by said f lower i rods.

11. In a cigarette feed for a packaging machine,ta'hopper adapted to support a supply of cigarettes, a plurality of assembling units located at the bottom of said hopper, cigarette supporting means in said hopper, including spaced, oppositely movable lifting arms, upwardly movable vanes in said units, lixed vanes spaced from said movable vanes and forming therewith a plurality of channels for receiving a predetermined number of cigarettes, means for moving said arms and said vanes in timed relationship to feed cigarettes into said channels, said arms being operative to lift cigarettes supported thereby and relieve pressure on the cigarettes beneath said arms and in the range of operation of said movable vanes, an ejector movable in a direction substantially at right angles to the path of movement of cigarettes into said units for ejecting a row of cigarettes from each of said units, said ejector comprising spaced sets of upper ejector rods and spaced sets of lower rods, said lower rods being longer than said upper rods, means for moving said ejector to engage said upper rods with the ends of a plurality of assembled cigarettes in said assembling units, and eject said cigarettes therefrom, said last named means simultaneously engaging said lower rods with the ends of cigarettes previously ejected from said assembling units, stripping fingers co-acting with said upper rods, guide members for guiding the ends of cigarettes advanced by said upper rods, and means for positioning said stripping lingers in operative relationship adjacent the rear ends of cigarettes ejected by said upper rods from said assembling units to prevent rearward movement of said cigarettes when said ejector is retracted, and a stack assembling device adapted to receive cigarettes advanced by said lower rods.

l2. In a cigarette feed for a packaging machine, a hopper adapted to support a supply of cigarettes, a plurality of assembling units located at the bottom of said hopper, cigarette supporting means in said hopper, including spaced, oppositely movable lifting arms, upwardly movable vanes in said units, lixed vanes spaced from said movable vanes and forming therewith a plurality of channels for receiving a predetermined number of cigarettes, means for moving said arms and said vanes in timed relationship to feed cigarettes into said channels, said arms being operative to lift cigarettes supported thereby and relieve pressure on the cigarettes beneath said arms and in the range of operation of said movable vanes, an ejector for moving cigarettes out of said assembly units, an aligning device into which said cigarettes are moved, said device including a plurality of cigarette channels of a width less than the major axis of an oval cigarette, guide means for guiding cigarettes into said channels, pressing ngers for pressing cigarettes advanced by said ejector into said channels, strippers for preventing retrograde movement of cigarettes delivered into said channels, and mechanism for engaging each cigarette in said channels for aligning said cigarettes with their major axes all inclined in the same direction.

13. The cigarette feed dened in claim l2, wherein said aligning mechanism comprises a plurality of spaced belts provided with notched cigarette engaging surfaces moving transversely across the bottom of each of said aligning devices, pulleys mounting said belts with the active laps thereof projecting above the plane of said bottom of said device for engagement with each cigarette in said channel, and means for driving said pulleys.

14. The cigarette feed defined in claim 12, wherein said guide means are resilient upwardly flared members located in each channel and in the path of movement of cigarettes entering said aligning device, and wherein said pressing fingers comprise a shaft for supporting said fingers, arms on said shaft supporting said strippers, resilient means normally urging said strippers downwardly toward said pressing fingers, and means for rocking said shaft to raise said lingers and said strippers, for movement of cigarettes therebeneath, into said channels of said aligning device.

15. In a cigarette feed for a packaging machine, a hopper adapted to support a supply of cigarettes, an assembling unit located at the bottom of said hopper, cigarette supporting means in said hopper, including spaced, oppositely movable lifting arms, upwardly movable vanes in said unit, iixed vanes spaced from said movable vanes and forming therewith a plurality of channels for receiving a predetermined number of cigarettes, means for moving said arms and Said vanes in timed relationship to feed cigarettes into said channels, said arms being operative to lift cigarettes supported thereby and relieve ressure on the cigarettes beneath said arms and in the range of operation of said movable vanes, an ejector movable in a direction substantially at right angles to the path of movement of cigarettes into said unit for ejecting a row of cigarettes from said unit, an aligning device into and out of which cigarettes are delivered by said ejector, means for assembling a plurality of rows of cigarettes into stacks, and means for delivering said stacks to said packaging machine.

16. The cigarette feed for a packaging machine defined in claim l5, wherein said means for assembling a plurality of rows of cigarettes into stacks comprises a movable supporting member, a plurality of equidistantly spaced collector units on said members, each of said collector units having a plurality of superimposed pockets having the shape of parallelograms, the top, bottom and side walls of said pockets being inclined toward the receiving end of said pockets to form substantially bell mouths into which cigarettes are pushed by said ejector from said aligning device.

17 An aligning device for a cigarette packaging machine comprising a plurality of spaced, substantially vertical elongated members forming a plurality of cigarette receiving channels, spaced plates located beneath said members forming a support table for said cigarettes in said channels, endless travelling belts running transversely of said channels located in said spaces between said plates, said endless travelling belts having roughened cigarette engaging surfaces for engaging said cigarettes in said channels and disposing said cigarettes with their major axes all aligned in the same direction, means for driving said belts, and pressing iingers for resiliently pressing said cigarettes in said channel downwardly onto said plates for engagement by said belts.

18. A cigarette assembling and feeding apparatus for a packaging machine, comprising a hopper adapted to contain a bulk supply of oval cigarettes, a plurality of spaced chutes located at the bottom of said hopper, spaced pairs of inclined walls located above said chutes for guiding cigarettes into said chutes, members mounted above said pairs of inclined walls and coacting therewith to support the major portion of said bulk supply of cigarettes in said hopper, means for rocking said members to and from each other to lift said portion of said bulk supply of cigarettes supported thereby and free said cigarettes in said hopper below said members for gravity feed between said inclined walls into said chutes, said chutes including a plurality of fixed vanes, and a plurality of movable vanes, said movable and xed vanes being spaced apart a distance less than the major axis of each cigarette delivered therebetween, and means for moving said movable vanes upwardly and downwardly to position cigarettes for downward movement into the spaces between said vanes.

19. In a cigarette feed for packaging machines, a hopper adapted to contain a bulk supply of cigarettes, a plurality of chutes located at the bottom of said hopper, oppositely movable sets of members adapted to support a portion of said bulk supply of cigarettes above said chutes, means for moving said members of said sets of members in opposite directions to lift said portion of said bulk supply of cigarettes supported thereby and thereby relieve the pressure of said portion of said cigarettes in said hopper on cigarettes entering said chutes,

each of said chutes including a plurality of xed vanes and a plurality of movable vanes, means supporting said xed and said movable vanes in spaced-apart relation to form channels for accommodating cigarettes delivered downwardly thereinto, and means for moving said vanes in timed relation with said members to align cigarettes resting on said fixed varies for movement downwardly into said channels.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Jagenberg Ian. 25, Arelt Sept. l2, Ne Sept. 19, Crighton July 19, Arelt Nov. 9, 

